Although I didn’t go on this trip. Last time I was in Rio (in 2016), we headed to Sugarloaf mountain, and I absolutely loved it.
Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio is a mountain peak that looks like a loaf of French bread sticking out of the Earth. That’s how it gets its name.
It’s about 369 meters above sea level. It’s beautiful, and it has a lot of natural vegetation and animal life on it. In other words, Sugarloaf Mountain is a fantastic ecosystem everyone must-see.
Getting to Sugarloaf Mountain
There are different ways of getting to Sugarloaf mountain. Last time we took a car service provided by our hotel, which no longer exists in Rio.
This time, my partner and my aunt took an Uber from our hotel, the Sheraton Grand in Leblon. Or you could take a taxi.
The subway system goes near it, but then you have to transfer to a bus.
I highly recommend Uber in Rio. They’re safe and very cheap. It’s pretty much half the cost of any taxi ride.
Although, as my partner discovered, getting an Uber to take you back to your hotel might be a challenge. Sometimes, they don’t want to climb the mountain to pick you up.
This is where the more expensive taxi rides come in handy.
One thing you should know is that Rio is not an expensive place in general. So Taxis, although they’re more costly than Uber’s, they’re not too pricey either.
Tickets for the Cable Car at Sugarloaf Mountain
You can purchase cable car tickets when you arrive at Sugarloaf Mountain, or you can buy them online. If you buy them online, you get a discount. I should mention, they just redid their website, and the user experience is so much better.
If you buy them in person you wait in line and pay at the ticket window.
During the hot season, the line is long. But during the offseason, there may not be a line at all. The ticket will cost you about R$194, which is about $48 USD.
The Cable Cars
I loved the cable cars the most. You have to take two to get to the top.
The first one takes you to a smaller peak. You unload and get onto the second one, which takes you to the actual Sugarloaf Mountain, the one that looks like a loaf of bread.
Sugarloaf Mountain
The views are incredible. The mountain itself looks impressive. It’s simply stunning.
Once you’re at the top, prepare yourself because the views are jaw-dropping. The city of Rio is gorgeous on any given day, but from up here, it’s heavenly.
You can see the airport nearby. Watch the planes land as you soak up some sunlight.
Every angle and every view is better than the next.
You’ll find restrooms and shops up there. You can purchase drinks, ice cream, coffee, snacks, etc.
There are several viewing platforms, as well.
This area of sugarloaf is a decent size, which means you can spread out and walk around.
If you’re into more extreme and intense adventures, consider hiking back down. It’s about a two-hour hike.
The hike winds down and around the mountain. It zig-zags back and forth. You go under tons of steep hills with beautiful trees. Although I wouldn’t recommend it during the hot season. Unless you’re carrying gallons of water, it seems like a recipe for disaster.
If you’re lucky, you’ll even see cute little monkeys jumping from tree to tree.
One day, I will do this hike and tell you guys all about it. But, for now, all I can say is that Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio is a must.
If you decide not to do the hike, the entire experience will last from 45 minutes to about an hour. It’s a quick in and out. You’ll get some great pictures and make some even better memories.
I MADE A YOUTUBE VID OF MY LAST TRIP CHECK IT OUT BELOW
Let me break it down for you:
Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio is beautiful. I highly recommend it.
Should you see it? Yes. Although I didn’t see it on this trip, I don’t think it’s worth doing twice unless you decide you’re ready to hike it and see a different angle.
It’s about $50 USD for a cable car ticket, round trip.
You’ll see the city from a gorgeous angle.
The hike down is about two hours long.
Check out their website for more information: https://www.bondinho.com.br/
